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You’re so lucky

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard, “You’re so lucky to work in a library. You get to read all day and your job is to check out books” I could make a substantial contribution to my favorite charity. Usually, I just laugh. When I have the time I might try to enlighten the speaker about the true nature of librarianship.

To some who seem to imply that working in a library is an easy/less taxing profession I suggest we swap jobs for a day/week. There is also a group who will just never get it no matter what I say. I tend to ignore them.

But, when a seemingly bright, educated, library user and generally informed person expresses these sentiments, I am perplexed, incredulous, stupefied, saddened, cranky, snarky and annoyed. I feel this way not just for myself, you understand, but for every librarian, para-professional, and support staff who work in a library.

Three times last week I was approached by community members whose effervescent, positive comments regarding this weekly column were followed by, “You are so lucky …” (see above). You know what the shortest verse in the Bible is? “Jesus wept.” (John, Chapter 11, verse 35) Well, here is the shortest sentence ever to appear in the 100 columns I’ve written. I wept.

When I was first approached about writing this column, Jane Cannon Mort told me I should write about the library. To be honest, I don’t think she knew it was my lifelong dream to have a weekly newspaper column that informed, educated, engaged and entertained readers about Libraryland. I decided the purpose of the column would be to inform readers about important events/programs/services. Its focus would educate folks that libraries are so much more than reading and checking out books, although those are important components. It would engage residents in understanding our vital role within the community and encourage feedback, suggestions and involvement. I love to laugh, and my goal was to be entertaining enough to make you chuckle and be happy there is a library in your community.

I’ve tried to live up to the lofty aspirations I set forth exactly two years ago. Along the way there were suggestions meant to improve the column and my character. Readers sent the nicest notes. Folks reacted positively in the grocery store, Walmart and at community events. I was flattered when a very nice man suggested I ought to write a book. It’s been wonderful sharing Libraryland with you each week. I’m absolutely delighted with comments such as, “I didn’t know that (fill in the blank) about the library,” “I used your column to fix my car,” “There’s so much more to the library than I realized.”

Convinced I’d made progress with the stereotypical notion that all librarians do is read and check out books, I was just a teeny-tiny, wee bit, self-satisfied. Pride goeth before a fall, as I was reminded by the recent comments that precipitated this column. Well, maybe not.

I am so lucky. Every day is a new adventure and libraries and library staff make a difference in people’s lives and the community at large. There is simply no better profession than being a librarian. I am so lucky because I am able read books when there are 32 million U.S. adults who are functionally illiterate. I just don’t have time to read books at work. I am so lucky because I work with a great staff who check out books and provide great customer service in a thousand different ways. YOU are lucky because staff never let me check out books for fear I’ll do it incorrectly. I guess, in the end, I need to rethink my reaction to “You’re so lucky to work in a library. You get to read all day and your job is to check out books.”

Tomorrow, April 9, begins National Library Week and the theme is “Libraries Transform.” If you check out books and read all day you are likely to be transformed. Does that make me a transformer? Tuesday, April 11 is National Library Workers Day. Take the time to say thank you to the hardworking folks who do check out books but don’t read all day. We are so lucky to have such dedicated staff members.

The first column I wrote two years ago began, “This is the last day of National Library Week 2015, a time for recognizing the important role that libraries play in their communities.” In this 100th column I’ll end with, “We are so lucky to celebrate Mifflin County Library’s 175th anniversary during National Library Week. Let’s check out a book and read all day.”

≤≤≤

Molly S. Kinney is the director at the Mifflin County Library. She’s lucky to have just completed Nora Robert’s “Key Trilogy.”

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